I have noticed over the years that the people I have tried to help the most have been the quickest to turn against me. This is not my observation alone for other pastors and Christian leaders have testified to the same experience. Nevertheless, it is heartbreaking when those who have been shown great kindness and no condemnation in private counseling sessions suddenly demonstrate a self righteousness when they find an opportunity to criticize those who have helped them. Why do these people not show grace? Why do they make quiet statements by avoiding those who have helped them or not so quiet statements if they are gifted with verbal or written skills of communication? It is perplexing.

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus told the parable of an unforgiving servant who, despite having been forgiven much, turned on others when he had the opportunity (18:21-30). Is there any explanation to this? A biblical inquiry reveals the following thoughts.

First, the heart of a person is deceitful and remains a great mystery. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Second, there are depths to sin which are deeper still which may help to explain why hell is described in the Bible as a bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1.

Third, a sense of righteousness is deeply ingrained into the human soul for man was made in the image of God. Sin has marred that image but a sense of "oughtness" cannot be removed from the heart. What God condemns and what some of us find so frustrating is the self righteousness that comes so quickly to the lips of individuals who should be more humble, more understanding, more compassionate with someone they believe is not doing right. But instead of a quiet and gentle spirit there wells up within the heart an emotion of anger that must be expressed in some form such as withdrawal of fellowship, no more correspondence or worse open condemnation.

In the Day of Judgment all the skeletons will come out of the closets for "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Corinthians 3:13). In that day, individuals will be judged on the same basis they have judged and treated others which is why Jesus told us to be careful. "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:2-5). Christian be aware of a self censorious spirit that produces anger. Be careful of avoiding someone who has shown you great kindness and mercy because you find some fault. You that are so spiritual now, beware and work to "restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2).